Remistus

Remistus (died in Ravenna, September 17, 456) was a general of the Western Roman Empire, commander-in-chief of the army under Emperor Avitus.

Life

Remistus was a Visigoth, as shown by his Germanic name. In 456 Remistus reached a high military rank under Emperor Avitus, who probably appointed him magister militum, and received the rank of patricius: he was the first magister militum since the death of Aetius in 454 and the first barbarian magister militum.

The newly appointed general took up residence in Ravenna, the capital, with a group of Goths. That same year Avitus, who was opposed by the Roman Senate, decided to leave Italy and go to his native Gaul to gather reinforcements; Remistus remained back to control Italy. He clashed with the Senate army, led by the Italian magister militum Ricimer and was forced to return to Ravenna; besieged, he was captured and put to death in the Palace in Classis, just outside the city, on September 17.

The following month, Avitus was deposed and killed.

Bibliography

• Fasti vindobonenses priores, 579; Auctuarium Prosperi Havniense, 1.
• Theophanes the Confessor, AM 5948
• Jones, Arnold Hugh Martin, John Robert Martindale, John Morris, "Remistus", The Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire, volume 2, Cambridge University Press, p. 939.
• Mathisen, Ralph W., "Avitus (9/10 July 455 - 17/18 October 456)", De Imperatoribus Romanis